STRENGTHENING HEALTH SECURITY

One of PREDICT’s greatest legacies is strengthening health security through capacity building—collaborating with governments at the regional, national and local levels to reinforce their health security infrastructure and train the current and future workforce in One Health skills to prevent and respond to pandemic threats.

PREDICT focused its efforts in regions of the world considered “hot spots,” countries where emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases are most likely to appear due to a high human population density and biodiversity, among other factors. In low- and middle-income countries, there are additional vulnerabilities in health systems for surveillance and detection of these disease threats, including human resources for disease detection and control.

Building a One Health Workforce

A One Health approach to disease surveillance requires a well-trained, technically skilled, multidisciplinary workforce. Surveillance teams need the knowledge and capabilities to safely and humanely collect samples from animals and people, conduct the laboratory tests that identify a virus and its corresponding health risks, and explore the social and behavioral factors associated with virus spillover and spread.

PREDICT invested in the infrastructure to develop this workforce, with a One Health curriculum and training program that included protocols covering 19 One Health-related topics critical for project implementation and long-term sustainability in the Africa and Southeast Asia regions.

Training numbers since 2009:

Training topics ranged from safe handling of animal and human samples, to behavioral risk investigations and syndromic surveillance techniques. Training events were implemented in a variety of formats and approaches, from online workshops and distan… — Training topics ranged from safe handling of animal and human samples, to behavioral risk investigations and syndromic surveillance techniques. Training events were implemented in a variety of formats and approaches, from online workshops and distance learning modules, to hands-on intensive workshops and experiential short courses.

“We were able to know what is living with us, especially what our people are living with in the communities, and that is very important. PREDICT prepares you, then we are preparing ourselves.”

— Richard Suu-Ire, PREDICT Wildlife Coordinator, Ghana

A Successful Global Model for the Health Security Workforce

PREDICT focused on multidisciplinary experiential training opportunities for veterinary, human health, wildlife and environmental professionals. Uniting experts across health sectors to foster greater collaboration and communication, help break down disciplinary silos, and enhance problem solving skills dramatically increased capabilities for readiness and response to newly emerging diseases and outbreaks of unknown origin. Our approach to One Health workforce development is a global model for future initiatives targeting the strengthening and empowerment of health systems and human resources for the detection, prevention, and response to disease threats.

Jliana and Daniel P2 lab interns at SUA.jpg

What’s Next: New Leaders and Continued Innovation in One Health

As PREDICT wraps up a decade of successful One Health surveillance and capacity strengthening efforts in some of the most challenging places in the world to work, two trajectories for continued workforce development are developing.

For PREDICT’s host country personnel, beneficiaries of years of intensive training, networking, and on-the-job experience, new leaders have emerged, ready to take the helm and continue integrating the One Health approach into national, regional, and global health security initiatives.

For PREDICT’s global consortium, we are striking a new balance, continuing to target programs with country partners around the world and pushing the envelope for new and innovative One Health training methods and research opportunities as part of USAID’s One Health Workforce–Next Generation Project.

ONE HEALTH CASE STUDIES

These case studies demonstrate One Health in action, illustrate real-world One Health approaches in a variety of contexts, and show the practical uses and benefits of One Health strategies in emergency and routine operations.